Testing backlog chance to move Maori health forward

Photo: Getty Images.

Click here for the full interview.

As the country moves more freely in Alert Level 2, Māori medical professionals are turning their focus to some long term health challenges.

Dr Rawiri Jansen from Māori pandemic response group Te Whakakaupapa Uruta says clinics are reopening and playing catch-up.

There’s some of the allergies and colds to be expected at this time of the year, but the ramped-up vaccination programming and social distancing of the COVID-19 response mean influenza cases will be lower.

There is also a lot of planning to get people the x-rays, radiology and ultrasounds they may have missed out on over the lockdown.

"For Te Whakakaupapa Uruta we're prepared to look back years and say actually, Māori have been missing out for years so as we do a restart let's think about how we do a good job for Māori. There will be lots of ways to do that, so we are keen to keep promoting that, encouraging that, supporting that and monitoring it as well, making sure it is done properly all around the country," Dr Jansen says.

For the first weekend out of lockdown, he was encouraged to see people continuing to keep social distance, and that needs to continue for a long time.

Follow us on &

Copyright © 2020, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com

RELATED NEWS

Te Aronui i a Perehitini Trump Ngā Whakatūpatotanga Mate Karauna Auckland sludge to blanket Aotea hāpuku grounds Taranaki health providers consolidated